An anti-capitalist protester in his 20s has been shot dead in clashes with police during the G8 summit in the Italian port city of Genoa.

Italian Interior Minister Claudio Scajola said the man was shot dead, presumably in self-defence, by an injured police officer.

Thousands of anti-globalisation demonstrators fought running battles with police for hours as the leaders of the world's richest countries and Russia - the Group of Eight (G8) - held their first day of talks.

Genoa issues

Impact of US slowdown on world economy

Relaunching global trade talks

Launching $1bn global health fund to tackle Aids and other diseases

Easing poverty in developing countries

Efforts to combat global warming

"The death occured during a violent assault on a carabinieri
vehicle which led to the injury of some troops inside," said an Italian interior ministry statement.

Witnesses said a young woman was seriously injured after being run over by a police vehicle in the same incident. And a policeman is reported to have suffered serious injuries in the clashes.

The Italian authorities expressed shock at the demonstrator's death and appealed for the protesters to withdraw from the city centre.

Virtual fortress

The BBC's Barney Mason says the death has darkened the mood of the summit and has reawoken questions about whether such meetings can go on being held inside a virtual fortress amid serious violence.